(CNSNews.com) - Pro-abortion groups are complaining about a government proposal that would extend state health insurance to "embryos and fetuses instead of pregnant women."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a regulation that would include "unborn children" in the state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It's a way for low-income pregnant women to get the prenatal care they need for themselves and their unborn babies.

But critics see it as a slippery slope.

The regulation raises "serious legal, ethical, and health questions," according to a statement issued by a group called the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. The group says it represents "a wide range of women's health and rights and religious organizations." (See list below.)

According to the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, there's nothing wrong with expanding prenatal care to low-income pregnant women. But the coalition says the HHS proposal is "the wrong approach" to accomplishing "this important goal."

By extending state health insurance to unborn babies, the government is making an "artificial distinction" between care for unborn babies and care for pregnant women, the coalition says.

"Many groups are concerned that the regulation lays the legal groundwork for an adversarial relationship between a women and her fetus by defining the fetus as a person, which may then have interest distinct from and in conflict with the woman," the press release says.

"Additionally, coverage for the fetus, not the pregnant woman, raises troubling ethical issues and could have adverse consequences for women's health, rights, and dignity."

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice is urging Congress to expand prenatal care for pregnant women as an alternative to having states offer specific coverage for unborn babies.

According to the press release, the following organizations have "expressed strong opposition" to the HHS proposal extending health insurance to "unborn children":

Religious and Religiously Affiliated;
General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church;
Presbyterian Church (USA);
The Rabbinical Assembly (Conservative Judaism);
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice;
Unitarian Universalist Association;
United Church of Christ;
Women of Reform Judaism, representing 100,000 women in 600 sisterhoods;
American Humanist Association;
Disciples for Choice, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ);
National Council of Jewish Women, representing 90,000 members and supporters;
New York Metro, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice;
Women's Rights and Health;
American Civil Liberties Union, with 300,000 members;
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, with over 43,000 members;
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, representing 2,500 health professionals;
Center for Reproductive Law and Policy;
National Abortion Federation, representing over 400 member facilities in 48 states;
National Council of Womens Organizations, over 100 organizations representing more than six million women;
National Health Law Program;
National Partnership for Women and Families;
People For the American Way, more than 500,000 members and supporters;
Voters for Choice